Cluster-top for electric lamps.



E. J. Y. HAMMETT. CLUSTER TOP FOR ELECTRIC LAMPS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 7. I916.

Patented July 3, 191?.

UNITED %TATE% PATENT @FFIQE.

EDMUND J. HAMMETT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CLUSTER-TOP FOR ELECTRIC LAMPS.

Application filed November 7, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDMUND J. Y. HAM- METT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improved Cluster-Top for Electric Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the manufacture of what may be termed high grade period reproduction, floor and table electric lamps. In such reproductions a base and pedestal or stand is frequently of a fine grade of wood as wood may be readily and cheaply turned for proper reproduction of a period desired. As an illustration, a lamp may be desired symbolic of a wooden candle stick of colonial design. In this instance mahogany would be employed. Sometimes plaster of Paris or other composition molded to desired shape and properly stained, may be employed. At other times an art vase or bowl of Japanese or other manufacture may be converted into an electric lamp. As such lamps are now manufactured, the cluster tops employed are made of brass and a cluster top is carried at the upper end of brass tubing which in turn is fixed to the pedestal or stand of the electric lamp. Practical experience in the art has demonstrated that such a brass cluster top is not suitable for use upon the particular forms of electric lamps above enumerated for the reasons, among others, that by the use thereof the symmetry and graceful appearance of the base and pedestal or stand is interrupted in an abrupt manner; the expense thereof is out of proportion to the cost of the lamp pedestal or stand; the mode of connection thereof with respect to the pedestal or stand is not sufficiently strong to withstand the usage to which it is put; the general construction per se is frail so that the same may be readily disfigured and the substitution of other or additional lamp sockets is impractical except at considerable expense and by experienced workmen.

The principal object of the present invention is to overcome the above recited disadvantageous features and provide a nonmetallic cluster top for electric lamps in which is combined simplicity, efiiciency, cheapness, durability and symmetrical corr- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 3, I917.

Serial No. 129,993.

tour. Other and further objects of the present invention will appear from the following description.

The invention consists of the improve ments hereinafter described and finally claimed.

The nature, characteristic features and scope of the invention will be more fully understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof and in which: Figure 1 is a view in elevation illustrating the application of the cluster top embodying the invention to a pedestal.

Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrating the application of the cluster top embodying the invention to a vase or urn.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in section of the cluster top.

Fig. 4 is a top or plan view of the cluster top, the cover being removed, and

Fig. 5 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of a cluster top connection hereinafter referred to.

For the purpose of illustrating my inven tion, I have shown in the accompanying drawings one form thereof which is at present preferred by me, since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, althoughit is to be understood that the various instrumentalities of which my invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

In the drawings and referring to Fig. 1, 10 designates a pedestal or stand of wood, plaster of Paris or other composition. Such pedestal or stand may be of the type known as floor lamps or it may be a table lamp. At its upper end is located the cluster top 11 of the invention. This cluster top embraces a two part construction of which one part, the hollow head 12, is rigidly attached to the pedestal or stand and of which the other part, the cap 13, is detachably connected with respect to said head. The cluster top is constructed of non-metallic material preferably possessing fibrous characteristics. In practice, wood is employed, although fiber or a suitable composition may be utilized. The head is hollow as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3 and the walls of the same are relatively thick. As shown in the drawings, this head is of inverted, cone-frustum configuration, although the design is immaterial and may be varied. The top rim of the head is provided with an annular ledge 14 for a purpose to presently appear. Penetrating the walls of the head are at least a pair of hollow, externally threaded, metallic nipples 15. In practice, holes are drilled in the walls of the head and the nipples screwed to place, the threads of the metal nipples cutting into the wooden head to hold the nipples to place. Such mode of attachment does away with tapping, riveting and soldering as is customary when brass cluster tops are em ployed. These nipples form means for attaching to place the lamp sockets 16. It is to be noted that if it be desired to increase the number of lamp sockets additional holes may be readily bored in the walls of the head and nipples screw thereto. This may be easily accomplished in a few minutes time very inexpensively and by unskilled labor and which can not be done in the case of brass cluster tops. Seated upon the rim of the head 12 is a removable, substantially solid cap 13 also of wood. The flat bottom thereof is provided with an annular flanged portion 17 for cooperatively engaging with the annular ledge 14. Such construction forms a tight fit of the parts and serves to steady the removable cap. To clamp the parts together, use is made of screws 18 or the like. The fiat bottom or base of the cap is tapered upwardly in a suitable design to provide a good effect and terminates in a flat top 19. Extended up through the center of the cap and projected through the top thereof is an elongated screw-threaded member 20, the head 21 of which is accommodated within a counter sunk portion 22 of the flat base of the cap. Adapted for screwthreaded engagement with the member 20 is a knob 23 shaped and proportioned to follow out and form a continuation of the design of the cluster top. In practice, a lamp shade 30 is clamped between said knob and the fiat top of the cap. The above construction serves to provide an eflicient means for lamp shade attachment. The method of attachment of the cluster top to the pedestalor stand may be accomplished in several ways. For instance, in a wooden stand the hollow head and stand may be turned upon a lathe as an integral construction, if desired. This form is disclosed in Fig. 2. As shown in Fig. 3, the head is provided with a depending projection or stud 2 1, which may be fitted within an aperture in the pedestal or stand top. The head may be secured to a stand by means of metallic tubing 28 extending up through the stand into the head as is well known in lamp constructions. This construction is disclosed in Fig. 5.. The

head has an aperture 25 in the bottom thereof which may accommodate said tubing when used, and the inner bottom wall of the head is flat as shown to accommodate the washer 29. vides means for wiring the lamp.

In Fig. 2 instead of a pedestal, a vase or urn 26 is utilized. Upon the vase or urn is fitted a base 27 which terminates in a hollow head as above described and which may be an integral part of the base 27 as shown or secured in either of the other above mentioned ways.

It will now be apparent that I have devised a novel and useful construction which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the invention and the above description and while I have in the present instance shown and described the preferred embodiment thereof which has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the character. stated a two part non-metallic cluster top consisting of a hollow head, the walls of which are proportioned to provide an upper rim-of appreciable width, and a substantially solid cap the bottom of which is shaped to seat it self upon said. rim, said bottom being marginally apertured for the passage therethrough of securing means, securing means passing vertically down through said apertures into said rim to secure said parts to gether, a plurality of lamp socket receiving nipples penetrating the walls of said head, the major portion of each nipple havin screw threaded relation with the head, an lamp shade securing means carried by said cap.

2. In a device of the character stated a two part non-metallic cluster top consisting of a hollow head, the walls of which are proportioned to provide an upper broad rim, a substantially solid cap the bottom of which is shaped to seat itself upon said broadrim, the rim and cap bottom being so shaped that one of said parts is countersunk to accept'in nested relation a projection upon the other of said parts, means for securing said parts together, a plurality of lamp-socket receiving nipples penetrating the walls of said head, the major portion of each nipple having screw threaded relation with the head, and lamp-shade securing means, carried by said cap.

3. In a device of the characterstated, a two-part non-metallic cluster top consisting of a hollow head having walls proportioned The aperture 25 also proto forman upper rim of appreciablewidth 13o and a cap having its bottom portion shaped In testimony whereof I have hereunto for abuttlng pos1t1on upon sa1d rim, means slgned my name.

for clamping said cap in said abuttin position and a plurality of lamp socket reo eiving EDMUND HAMMETT' nipples penetrating the Walls of said head, In the presence of the major portion of each nipple having D. D. DAILEY, screw threaded relation With the head. WILLIAM J. JACKSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. (7. 

